PHILADELPHIA, PA — After weeks of speculation and anticipation surrounding the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, Philadelphia 76ers fans finally have their answer—and plenty to celebrate. The hometown team secured the No. 3 pick in next month’s draft, offering a collective sigh of relief for both the fanbase and the front office. Under the terms of the Sixers’ 2020 trade with Oklahoma City, the pick would have conveyed to the Thunder had it fallen outside the top six. In addition to retaining their lottery pick, the Sixers will also select at No. 35 overall, giving the team another valuable opportunity to add depth and talent in the second round.
The Sixers last held a lottery pick in 2018, selecting Mikal Bridges at No. 10 before trading him to the Phoenix Suns on draft night in exchange for Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round pick.
Outside of the Dallas Mavericks—who landed the No. 1 pick and are expected to select Cooper Flagg out of Duke, the draft’s most highly touted player—the Sixers may be considered the biggest winners of the draft lottery. In desperate need of a spark following a disappointing and injury-riddled season that left many fans in disbelief and frustration, the Sixers now have a golden opportunity to re-energize their future.
Viewed as a top-five title contender in last season’s Las Vegas preseason odds, the Sixers stumbled to a 24–58 finish—marking the fifth-worst record in the league. A key factor in their collapse was their lackluster offensive performance, as they ranked 26th in points per game (109.6), 30th in rebounds per game (39.8), and 29th in assists per game (23.2).
In addition to their offensive struggles, the Sixers were hampered by injuries throughout much of the season. Despite boasting a trio of elite scorers, consistent availability proved elusive. The team’s “Big Three”—former league MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid, nine-time All-Star Paul George, and 2024 Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey—appeared in just 15 games together. Building chemistry and generating momentum is a tall order when your top players spend so little time on the court as a unit.
Embiid was sidelined for the remainder of the season beginning in late February due to a lingering left knee injury. He appeared in a career-low 19 games and underwent arthroscopic surgery in April. George played in just 41 games before being shut down in mid-March after receiving injections in his left groin and knee. Maxey delivered a career-best season—averaging 26.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists—but was forced to miss the final stretch after re-injuring a finger in early April, limiting him to 52 games.
While much can change between now and the draft, scheduled for June 25–26, ESPN’s first post-lottery mock draft projects the Sixers to select Airious “Ace” Bailey, a shooting guard/small forward out of Rutgers.
“Wings with Bailey’s combination of size, physical skill and shooting prowess are rare,” ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo notes. “That coveted archetype has kept his stock largely steady despite his inconsistencies as a decision-maker, ball handler and defender. Some teams are concerned with the risk attached in those areas, but his scoring talent has tantalizing appeal for front offices in search of star power.”
For a franchise eager to turn the page after a disastrous 2024–25 campaign, this year’s draft offers a chance to reset the narrative. If the Sixers make the right moves, draft night could serve as the spark that reignites their championship aspirations.
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